Classroom Grants
About Classroom Grants
Champions For Learning’s Classroom Grants Program is a competitive grant process that provides an opportunity for teachers in Collier County to apply for and receive funding for their classroom or school projects that fall outside of the regular school budget.
Any teacher who serves in a Florida Department of Education recognized K-12 school in Collier County is eligible to participate, including traditional public schools, charter schools, and private/independent schools. Applicants can be classroom teachers, Related Arts teachers, school counselors, academic coaches, teachers on special assignments, or Curriculum Coordinators.
Teachers may submit up to four grant requests for funding consideration by Champions For Learning’s volunteer Selection Committee, for a total award amount of no more than $2,000 per teacher annually. Additional submissions beyond four applications or a total award amount of $2,000 will be posted on the Classroom Grants portal for community-based funding consideration. Individual grant requests may not exceed $2,000. Types of projects NOT typically covered include professional conference costs, out of county field trips, items considered to be “capital” costs (i.e., furniture and technology), food items, and gift cards. Grants with these items may be approved and shared for public funding.
Eligible projects can include classroom supplies or equipment that is not covered under the school budget, local field trip costs, enrichment activities, school-wide projects, and other innovative classroom projects that go beyond typical school budgets, sparking excitement and engagement. All grant requests must be approved by the teacher’s principal. Applicants are encouraged to talk with their principal prior to submitting a request to ensure it meets the goals and priorities of the school and that funding is not otherwise available.
The Classroom Grants Program is a competitive process, with the number of requests exceeding the amount of funding available for the Selection Committee to award. The Selection Committee utilizes a rubric scoring system to determine which grants demonstrate the most impact on student learning. We encourage educators to take advantage of all the resources provided by Champions For Learning to better understand our grant application and scoring process.
How To Apply For A Classroom Grant
Champions For Learning is excited to offer a new Educators Portal for Classroom Grant applications and grant management.
Please note: The portal is temporarily closed and will reopen on October 19, 2026
To get started, visit the Classroom Grant Portal here: https://educators.championsforlearning.org/
Once on the site, you will see a Classroom Grants Program tab, and a How to Apply for a Classroom Grant tab. Use the How to Apply For A Classroom Grant tab to create your account, and for directions on how to create, save, and submit your grant request.
At the top right of Classroom Grant Portal page, you will see options to Login or Register. The first time you access the grant portal, select Register and use your school email address to create an account with your personalized password.
If you have applied for a classroom grant request with Champions For Learning within the last three years, your historical application(s) will soon appear in your account.
Once you are registered, you can select Login to create your request, submit it for approval, and check its status.
Approved grants will be posted for public funding edibility beginning the week of July 20.
Through the portal, educators can:
- Save and edit applications
- Submit Classroom Grant applications for principal approval
- Submit Classroom Grant applications for Champions For Learning approval
- Track grant application status
- Track grant funding status
- Use the approved URL to share your grant request for potential funding
- Complete required grant reporting for funded projects
Before You Apply
- Review classroom grant guidelines and eligibility requirements below
- Review our grant writing resources, sample applications, and training materials to strengthen your proposal
- Discuss your project with your principal as needed
- Prepare your project description, goals, expected outcomes, and budget
View all approved classroom grants here, Classroom Grants Program 2026-2027 | The Education Foundation of Collier County – Champions For Learning.
Questions? Contact Champions For Learning at EducatorPrograms@ChampionsForLearning.org for assistance with the Classroom Grants program.
Classroom Grants Timeline
The Classroom Grants Portal is open for new grants requests each school year in July. All approved grant requests are posted for public viewing on the Classroom Grants portal, which will be open for the community to choose individual grants to fund.
For the 2026-2027 School Year:
July 13: Classroom Grants Portal Opens for Teachers’ Submissions
July 20: Approved Classroom Grants Posted Publicly on Website for Funding
September 10: Educator Submission Deadline for Grants to be considered by Selection Committee
October (Date TBA): Classroom Grant Delivery Day – Educators receive funds to ClassWallet
March 5: Grant Portal Closes
April 30: Deadline for Outcome Reports
Grant Awarding
Funded grants are generally delivered on Surprise Grant Delivery Day in October. Grants funded after this date are delivered on an individual basis.
Champions For Learning will transfer the grant amount to each teacher’s Class Wallet account for easy use and transparency. If the teacher does not have a Class Wallet account, a check will be presented to the teacher.
If a grant request is not funded during the fall timeline, it will stay on the Classroom Grants portal for consideration by the general public until Spring Break. Afterwards, all unfunded projects will be archived and removed from public viewing.
All funded projects must be completed in the current school year.
Grant Reporting and Accountability
For awarded projects, teachers must complete three reporting requirements:
- Writing a Thank You note to the specific supporter(s) of each grant project.
- Completing the online Impact Report through the Classroom Grants portal for each grant project.
- Submitting the receipts for each grant project (via Class Wallet or via email).
Components of Grant Application
1. Goal(s)
GOAL(S) OF THE PROJECT ARE STATED
Project Purpose:
a) What is the overall purpose of your project?
b) What need(s) does it address?
c) What learning goal, academic standard, or outcome does your project address?
d) How does this project connect to a school or district priority?
2. Activities
WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH STUDENTS?
Project Description:
a) How will students actively participate?
b) How will this project meet the needs of your students, classroom, and or/school?
c) What teaching strategies or instructional activities will be used?
d) How will student participation connect to classroom instruction?
3. Benefit
BENEFITS TO THE STUDENTS
Expected Outcomes:
a) What specific improvements do you expect for your students?
b) How will you know the project was successful?
c) What evidence, observations, student work, or assessments will demonstrate impact?
4. Budget
BUDGET
Purpose of Funding, specifically:
a) Explain how the requested items directly support student learning and project goals.
b) How many students will benefit from the project?
For more details on the criteria grant submissions are evaluated on please reference the Technical Assistance Paper for Teachers, and utilize the Virtual Classroom Grants Training for additional guidance.
Links to Resources
Grant Writing Technical Assistance Paper for Teachers
Sample Request 1 – Master it with Blooket
Sample Request 2 – Pages of the Past: Building a Diverse Library for All
Sample Request 3 – Manipulatives for Math Success
Sample Request 4 – Zoo Field Trip
Frequently Asked Questions
Individual teachers may submit as many grant requests as needed. However, only the first four (4) requests will be reviewed by the Classroom Grants Committee for consideration from the Classroom Grants Fund. Any additional requests will only be eligible for public consideration.
A teacher may be awarded up to $2,000 annually by the foundation, but public funding through the Classroom Grants portal is unlimited.
You can contact the Champions For Learning team at EducatorPrograms@championsforlearning.org
The Selection Committee utilizes evaluation criteria related to the goals, project, expected outcomes, and purpose of funding. We recommend reviewing the Technical Assistance Paper for specific evaluation criteria to improve your chances of being funded.
Technically speaking, all non-consumables become the property of the individual school. However, it’s up to the discretion of the principal if a teacher can take any supplies/equipment if they change schools.
Reach out to Champions For Learning immediately if circumstances change after a grant has been awarded (ex. items no longer available, school or teaching schedule change, illness or maternity leave, etc). It is up to the specific donor if the funds can be used for something other than what was proposed in the original grant request.
If the request is not funded during the fall, it will remain on the public-facing webpage until March 5th, 2027. If it is not funded by then, it will be archived, and teachers may reapply in a future school year.
If the request is partially funded, Champions For Learning will reach out to see if you can use the partial funding. If yes, the funds will be released to you, and you will need to comply with the reporting requirements as outlined.
Types of projects NOT typically covered include professional conference costs, out of county field trips, items considered to be “capital” costs (i.e., furniture and technology), food items, and gift cards.